MU wins big in season opener

WEST LONG BRANCH – Monmouth University men’s basketball coach King Rice had just about emptied the bench Friday night.
And it was only the first half.
“I’ve been saying we have a lot of kids (who can play),” Rice said after the Hawks came out flying in their 2012-13 season opener.
They soared past Hofstra of the Colonial Athletic Association 91-62 in a non-conference game to the delight of 2,307 fans at the MAC which included a massive white-shirted clad student section.
“Every dude on our bench can go in the game and play,” Rice said. “The sell is everybody can be fresh the whole time they’re in the game.”
Sophomore forward Andrew “Red”” Nicholas pumped in a career high 28 points for Monmouth, 18 in the first half which ended with the Hawks in front, 50-31.
It marked first time Monmouth had scored 50 points in the first half since a Dec. 12, 2009 MAC win over Penn.
Senior guard Jesse Steele, who played only six minutes and took one shot in the first half when he incurred two personal fouls, scored all of his 10 points in the second. He registered a team highs with six of Monmouth’s 25 assists and four of its 17 steals.

Steele had several fingers on his left (non-shooting hand) taped together.
“I had a dislocated finger but it’s fine now,” Steele said.
“Jesse’s gotten tougher, ” Rice said. “He dislocated his finger up in Scranton (where Monmouth practiced for a few days after Hurricane Sandy) and didn’t miss any time.
“Last year he would have been out for two months,” Rice said smiling.
Redshirt senior Gary Cox added 10 points off the bench in six minutes.
Guards Stevie Mejia and recent addition Shaquille Stokes, a sophomore transfer guard from Hawaii out of New York City, tallied 12 points each for the Pride (0-1).
Shooting 51.4 percent from the floor (19-for-37 with 15 assists) Monmouth used a 20-3 first half tun to break the game open.
Monmouth had 15 assists on its 19 first half baskets.
“In the first half they were trying to press us,” Steele said. “We just ran through it and were getting quick, easy buckets.
“The second half they tried to slow us down. We were trying to run the clock play with a little motion (offense).”
Monmouth scored 33 points off 23 Hofstra turnovers.
Hofstra third-year coach Mo Cassara said Monmouth came out ready to play.
As for his club? “As a coach you always think you are,” he said. “Obviously we have a lot of new faces out there” he said. “We played five freshmen tonight, had a couple out there who obviously didn’t play well to start the game.
“I thought every time we made a little bit of run, we cut it to 12 there in the second half and started to play a little bit better, they were able to answer.”
With Hofstra within 64-52 with 8:40 remaining Nicholas hit from the baseline and sank a driving layup and Monmouth was out of any potential danger.
“We noticed they got a run, and called a quick time out, got back together and kept defending,” Steele said.
“I think tonight our kids were primed,” Rice said. ‘It was a match up of styles and tonight our style won.
“I think it was big for the NEC that we were able to beat a CAA team. I know they have some guys out.”
Friday was a far cry from last season when Monmouth opened with eight consecutive defeats.
“I’m just happy that it didn’t take nine games for us to get a win this year,” Rice said.
Ed Waite had nine points and six rebounds for Monmouth and Khalil Brown grabbed a team high 9 rebounds.tonygsports@aol.com

Comments

About Tony Graham

Long time Asbury Park Press reporter of local high school and collegiate sports. Proud Phan of the 2008 World Series Champion Philadelphia Phillies.

We witnessed last night a glimpse at the promise of what the KR era at MU will be like. It was an exciting brand of BB that had fans on their feet and the MAC was as loud as it was for the last two games last year. A year ago they made a great run at the end of the season and took a step forward in their progression, but it was a thin bench for this tempo and defense. If last night was any indication, we are in for some entertaining games at the MAC and our returing players have taken some more steps forward to where KR wants to take the program.

Now before people get out of control and start making W/L predictions lets keep things in perspective, Hofstra in not a top CAA team and might be a mid/lower level NEC team. The good news with that is that MU showing that they can beat teams that they should/could beat and not play down a level. On Monday they begin to play top notch non-conference teams with Notre Dame. This is where the leadership of the upperclassmen need to make the new guys comfortable playing in a hostile environment and keep them calm and play within themselves. They can still make positive strides with a loss against a top tier program.

Too many bright spots from last night to list them all, hopefully we’ll have a full MAC soon (and not just for Villanova) because that place will be a great home court advantage when it is rocking. Everybody start bringing more friends to games…

Boy, one good rebounder and we could be tough to beat. I just see us getting hammered on the boards when we play teams with size. Keeping my fingers crossed that we can do enough on the boards to get us a few non conference wins. Was great to see our free throw shooting at such a high percentage.

Tony, did MU have radio issues for the hofstra game? I couldnt get an online stream through Itunes or the recommended app.

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Josh Newman on Monmouth University and local college athletics

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Josh NewmanJosh Newman has worked for the Press since September 2004, covering a variety of high school beats in addition to college sports and the New York Jets. A 2004 graduate of Springfield College, he is currently the beat reporter for Monmouth University.E-mail Josh

Sherlon ChristieSherlon Christie is a sports reporter at the Asbury Park Press. He joined the APP in the fall of 2004. He grew up in Massachusetts, has a BA in Journalism from Northeastern University's School of Journalism. He is also the secretary of the National Association of Black Journalists.E-mail Sherlon

Steve EdelsonSteve Edelson has been covering the area sports scene for more than 25 years. And while he has chronicled the accomplishments of many athletes, he's still patiently waiting for his first hole-in-one.E-mail Steve

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